SANTA CLARA -- Lost amid the 49ers' success the past two seasons has been their ability to keep their coaching staff and front office intact.

The 49ers have escaped unscathed so far in terms of other teams poaching their ranks during a busy offseason for teams out of the playoffs.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman was thought to be a legitimate candidate to become the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach on the heels of the Jaguars hiring David Caldwell as their general manager.

Caldwell and Roman were college roommates and teammates at John Carroll University in the 1990s. Instead, Caldwell hired Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said it's only a matter of time before Roman, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula or one of his other coaches bolts for a higher-profile job.

"Well, I feel any team would be lucky to have them as head coaches," Harbaugh said. "That time will come. I'm very confident of that."

If Harbaugh isn't careful with his praise of Roman, he might expedite that process.

"The job that Greg has done this year is really, in so many ways, just been one of the best I've ever seen," Harbaugh said. "We'll talk more about that later. We got a job to do right now. But he's the shining star in my book."

Advertisement

If Roman gets a coaching gig elsewhere, he won't be the first from the Harbaugh tree. Stanford offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who coached under Harbaugh at Stanford in 2010, reportedly was hired as the Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Friday.

Once his playing career ends, 49ers running back Frank Gore wants in on Roman's staff if he becomes a head coach somewhere.

"I would be a great coach," Gore said. "For one, I love the game of football. I've been around the game all my life, since I was 4. I could tell who is a real football player. I've got an eye for talent. ... So, if Coach Roman ever gets a head job, and he wants to hire me, I'll be ready."

The feeling is mutual, Roman said.

"Oh yeah, without question," Roman said. "I always tell Frank, 'Man, when you're done playing, come find me or I'll find you,' because he is a guy that I love working with as a player, and I'm sure I would love working with as a coach."

Roman calls Gore "the ultimate team guy" and someone he bounces ideas off throughout the week. Someday, they might be doing so full time.